The Brian Lehrer Show Which Casinos Will Win Support?
Sep 30, 2025
Nick Garber, a politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, dives into the hot topic of downstate casino proposals, highlighting Steve Cohen's Willets Point bid, which just garnered community approval. He discusses the favorites for the licenses, exploring why some Manhattan bids flopped due to local opposition. A spirited community reaction emerges around Cohen's proposal, with mixed feelings from locals. Garber also navigates the complexities of grassroots support versus developer influence, as the deadline for selecting winners approaches.
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Finalists Emerge In Accelerated Casino Race
- New community advisory committee votes winnowed nine initial downstate casino proposals to four finalists.
- The state will award up to three licenses by December 1st, creating high-stakes competition.
Frontrunners And A Competitive Third Slot
- Steve Cohen's Citi Field proposal and Resorts World are widely seen as frontrunners to win licenses.
- The third spot is uncertain and could go to either Empire City (Yonkers) or Bally's in the Bronx.
Local Opposition Sank Manhattan Bids
- Manhattan bids failed largely due to organized local opposition and politically risky committee votes.
- State-created community committees had binding influence that sank several Midtown proposals.